Central Table Update 5/11/09

We had two days of bargaining last week, days best described as frustrating and uneventful.  Management made no changes in their terrible economic proposal (26 furlough days, including 15 on holidays; step freeze; no COLA’s; elimination of the tenth step, etc.).  Our discussions at the bargaining table focused on smaller issues, like grievance procedure timelines and trial service periods, but even on these issues, we did not reach any tentative agreements.   Our bargaining team was especially outraged that management rejected our proposal to extend recall rights for laid-off employees from two to three years.  At a time when some layoffs seem inevitable, this small change would provide some added protection for laid-off workers and cost the State nothing!

Mid-May will be an important period in our contract campaign, for three reasons:

1.    On May 14, members will participate in worksite actions throughout the state.  Please save the date and check with your steward, organizer, or union activists in your worksite for details.

2.     On May 15, we expect the State’s economist to issue a new revenue forecast.  The size of the budget deficit will have a large impact on our bargaining and our ability to prevent major layoffs of state employees.  The February revenue forecast projected a budget hole of $3.1 billion, but all evidence points to a much deeper hole in the May forecast.

3.     Shortly after the budget forecast, we expect the Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee to issue its recommended budget, which will give us an indication of how deep the cuts and layoffs will be.  The Ways and Means Committee’s budget will also show us how serious the legislature is about raising new revenue through changes in tax rates for corporations and the wealthy.  No matter what, we expect devastating cuts in public services and significant numbers of layoffs.  But a budget that raises new revenue will blunt those cuts, reduce the impact on services and jobs, and increase our ability to negotiate a just contract in which our sacrifices are balanced and equitable.

We return to the bargaining table on May 18 and 19th. In addition, our statewide rally in Portland is June 7.  We will have buses coming from all over the state, so hold the date!

For more information (including coalition bargaining updates and information about SEIU sponsored radio and newspaper ads in support of a fair budget and a fair contract), see the main DAS/OUS bargainining page.